April 19, 2015

Third Sunday of EasterLectionary: 47

Peter said to the people:“The God of Abraham,the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presencewhen he had decided to release him.You denied the Holy and Righteous Oneand asked that a murderer be released to you.The author of life you put to death,but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.Now I know, brothers,that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;but God has thus brought to fulfillmentwhat he had announced beforehandthrough the mouth of all the prophets,that his Christ would suffer.Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

My children, I am writing this to youso that you may not commit sin.But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,Jesus Christ the righteous one.He is expiation for our sins,and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.The way we may be sure that we know him is to keephis commandments.Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandmentsare liars, and the truth is not in them.But whoever keeps his word,the love of God is truly perfected in him.

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,he stood in their midst and said to them,“Peace be with you.”But they were startled and terrifiedand thought that they were seeing a ghost.Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?And why do questions arise in your hearts?Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bonesas you can see I have.”And as he said this,he showed them his hands and his feet.While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,that everything written about me in the law of Mosesand in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.And he said to them,“Thus it is written that the Christ would sufferand rise from the dead on the third dayand that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his nameto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things.”

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